Building First Computer; Could use a ton of advice

R

redhammerone

New Member
So I've decided to build my first computer. I know basically nothing other than what I've read on this forum.

-I intend to use the computer for gaming.
-I have a fairly decent budget, would like to cap things at $2k.
-I don't need a monitor.

I think I can manage to assemble it once all the parts arrive... Question is, what parts should I get? Please help! :o
 
http://www.computerforum.com/170305-first-time-builder-gaming-rig-d.html Heres a link to the one im building tonight. I just got all the parts in from newegg.com on the estimated shipping date (the tower I got two days before). Theres a couple of different sites I have seen people use.

www.tigerdirect.com
www.newegg.com

My budget was around the same as yours. I ended up spending around $1000 less than I expected (a bit concerned because I had never done it before). I am new, so there will be some guys who give much better advice than me.

If you know which parts are compatible, I would start by figuring out what hardware you want to put in it. There is a good guide with pictures stickied in this section of the forum on the building process. There is also another good guide on what parts to pick/building process I just got done reading here http://www.computerforum.com/16363-building-computers-101-a.html#post107078

I would hang tight for some reponses on the high end video cards, cpus and motherboards. I would also read up on crossfire/SLI, with that kind of budget you will probably be doing it.
 
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Hey there.

I'm in the EXACT SAME situation as you haha (only i need a monitor).

Exact same. Want a killer gaming rig, never built one before, only info is from the forums, have a 2k budget haha.

I posted yesterday and have gotten some nice responses if you want to check out my thread it could be helpful. I've been kindof forum trolling between here and PCMech forums and the build i posted on my latest reply seems to be like the winner winner chicken dinner.

PCMech forum thread: http://www.pcmech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=213637

Computerforum thread: http://www.computerforum.com/170772-want-advice-approval-build.html

Maybe we can partner up on this one and collaborate on what we learn?

Let me know what you find out. Pm me, reply to thread or pm to get my email.. haha
 
Alright, here goes

Preliminary run-down on what I'm looking at. Please advise if components aren't compatible, I've picked out a lemon, something is lacking, or there's just a better option:

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

CPU: Intel Core i7-920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3EG HD203WI 2TB 5400 RPM 32MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152202

Optical Drive: Lite-On 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

All together runs to about $1725, without shipping or rebates. Throw in Windows 7 for another $100 or so, and I'm within budget; though I could get bigger if it was worth it.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Edit: Snowave6 - ty for the help! I'd be happy to pass along anything I learn; of course most anything I learn will probably be in this thread!
 
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I would find a 7200 RPM hard drive, seems to be the benchmark. I made that same mistake at 5400 RPM. You got the right CPU with the mobo and the ram is trip channel and your mobo supports that (another mistake I made) I think that looks good. Good choice of a gpu..

Looks like all your parts are ready for crossfire when you are as well..

I am sure some of the more seasoned guys will drop a line with any advice. Looks good though!

tight case on top of it all

EDIT: if you don't need 2tb hd you could always just grab that extra gpu now
 
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redhammerone said:
Preliminary run-down on what I'm looking at. Please advise if components aren't compatible, I've picked out a lemon, something is lacking, or there's just a better option:

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

CPU: Intel Core i7-920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3EG HD203WI 2TB 5400 RPM 32MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152202

Optical Drive: Lite-On 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

All together runs to about $1725, without shipping or rebates. Throw in Windows 7 for another $100 or so, and I'm within budget; though I could get bigger if it was worth it.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Edit: Snowave6 - ty for the help! I'd be happy to pass along anything I learn; of course most anything I learn will probably be in this thread!
Click to expand...
Lets go over a few of these parts:

Case: Provantage has it for $20 less
http://www.provantage.com/cooler-master-rc-932-kkn1-gp~7COOL04R.htm

Mobo: Great board, could save a few bucks with this though:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128422

GPU: Mid march the eyefinity 6 edition of the 5870 is due to come out, and nvidia fermi is supposed to launch on March 26th....may be worth waiting on both fronts

PSU: Few bucks more, you can get a modular unit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059

CPU: If you have a microcenter close...the i7 920 are only $229 in store.

Memory: Corsair dominators are really a waste when it comes to price, these gskill have better heatsinks, timings, and are cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

Hard Drive: Get two 1gb drives, similar price for two but these are much faster drives, and im not a fan of samsung drives personally due to some reliability problems that have happened with them:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

ODD: Same price, but has an NEC chipset and lightscribe support:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032


What display are you looking at?
 
Thanks for the advice!

It should be noted that I am in no way committed to buying from Newegg.. I just found them a convienient place to compile a shopping list; rest assured that I will comparison shop for each of the pieces once my list is finalized.

As for the display I currently have a couple of okay-but-nothing-fancy monitors. My plan is to use them for a month or two, then upgrade to top-of-the-line (or at least the economically reasonable top-of-the-line) once my discretionary fund replenishes itself.

EDIT: "GPU: Mid march the eyefinity 6 edition of the 5870 is due to come out, and nvidia fermi is supposed to launch on March 26th....may be worth waiting on both fronts."

If you don't mind my asking, how much are these supposed to run? And how much of an upgrade would they be?
 
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Hey red,

like i said before i'm doing the same thing as you.

I've got my final list here:
http://www.computerforum.com/170772-want-advice-approval-build-3.html

if you want to check it out.

The case you chose was the one i was going to choose if i didn't choose my (probably overpriced) alternative.

I'm going to do top of the line video card that are pretty cheap right now over at provantage: (http://www.provantage.com/asus-eah5970g2dis2gd5~7ASU916V.htm). If you choose to go with that, you might have to upgrade your power supply unit, i'm not sure. The one i'm using came with some combo deal with my case and its 1100W which might be a little overkill, but i read that its not good to skimp on psu's.

A guy on another forum was saying that i7's and motherboards that support them are "overkill for gaming computers". So i went with i5 and a cheaper compatible asus motherboard so i could afford the sick video card. If you did that i think you'd have to change your memory to double instead of triple channel which i was reading on some site that its not a massive difference.

The monitor i picked is a good deal right now and looks SUPER crispy. 220 i think.

Let me know how its coming.

The harddrive i chose is 7200 rpm like these guys are saying is good, and it is a lot cheaper than yours.
 
redhammerone said:
Thanks for the advice!

It should be noted that I am in no way committed to buying from Newegg.. I just found them a convienient place to compile a shopping list; rest assured that I will comparison shop for each of the pieces once my list is finalized.

As for the display I currently have a couple of okay-but-nothing-fancy monitors. My plan is to use them for a month or two, then upgrade to top-of-the-line (or at least the economically reasonable top-of-the-line) once my discretionary fund replenishes itself.

EDIT: "GPU: Mid march the eyefinity 6 edition of the 5870 is due to come out, and nvidia fermi is supposed to launch on March 26th....may be worth waiting on both fronts."

If you don't mind my asking, how much are these supposed to run? And how much of an upgrade would they be?
Click to expand...
generally newegg is the cheapest on most stuff, just the HAF is a bit pricey there. And actually, i recommend this case more than the HAF, feature wise this is one of the best cases out there: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216

As far as the eyefinity 6, and nvidia's fermi architecture...no words on it as of yet, but fermi is what alot of people have been waiting for, and eyefinity 6 edition 5870's will support passive displayport->dvi adapters(currently on the 5870 if you want eyefinity you can only run two dvi displays, and then either a displayport enabled display or active displayport adapter is required. The active(powered) adapter is $99, passive ones can be had as low as $5 or so(advantage to waiting on the new 5870). Its a good thing to look into if you plan on running more than 2 displays. Fermi on the other hand is nvidia's new "revoloutionary" architecture...no actual benches out on it though.

Depending on how much your looking to pay for a display, this offers some of the best bang for the buck out there:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236079
 
Alright, here's my build

Once again, thank you for all your advice. I'd appreciate it if ya'll would look it over one more time to make sure it's compatible, and I'm not making any massive mistakes:


(I'm linking to New Egg simply out of convience. Based on some prelimiary web searching, I figure I'll actually only buy about 1/2 from them.)

Case:
COOLER MASTER CM690 II
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216

Mother Board:
ASUS P6X58D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131614

Video Card:
Gonna try and wait for late March for the Nvidia GTX 400. If that turns out to be way too expensive, or I just run out of patience, i'll probably go with:
SAPPHIRE 100281SR Radeon HD 5870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102856

Power:
SILVERSTONE ST75F-P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059

CPU:
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
(Yeah, it might be overkill, but there's a Microcenter close to me selling them for under $200, so why not.)

Memory:
G.SKILL PI Series 6GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

Hard Drives:
2x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

ODD:
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032

(So yeah, I copied 95%+ of what bomber said :P )

Anything I'm missing? Or am I good to go?
 
2 tb for gaming? yikes

I understand if you never want to run out of space for games but that amount is enough for well over 100 large games.
 
redhammerone said:
Once again, thank you for all your advice. I'd appreciate it if ya'll would look it over one more time to make sure it's compatible, and I'm not making any massive mistakes:


(I'm linking to New Egg simply out of convience. Based on some prelimiary web searching, I figure I'll actually only buy about 1/2 from them.)

Case:
COOLER MASTER CM690 II
Mother Board: ASUS P6X58D [ur... Or am I good to go?[/QUOTE] looks good;)
Click to expand...
 
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